Malaysia: Cockle farmers quitting as yield dries up

The Star 7 Jul 15;

TAIPING: Cockle farmers in Kuala Sepetang are suffering losses up to RM200,000 because the shellfish are dying – and so is their business.

Kuala Sepetang Cockle Farmers Association president Koay Seng Lam said farmers had been harvesting empty shells since March and many were planning to quit.

Koay, 70, said several farmers had already decided to stop operations as they could not get any more bountiful harvests.

“I am planning to retire. I have been farming cockles for 40 years,” he told The Star.

“I am old but I do hope the younger generation can continue to breed cockles,” he said.

“As of now, we can only wait for test results conducted by the Fisheries Department to know what is causing the cockles to die and what can be done,” he added.

Association treasurer Lee Theng Ghee, 75, said the yield of cockles began to dwindle after the 2004 tsunami.

“We just can’t explain why it is so. We are hoping the Fisheries Department can explain to us,” he said.

Lee said it usually takes up to about 18 months for the cockles to be harvested.

“It is a lot of work to farm cockles.

“Farmers need to check on the cockles regularly to ensure they are thriving,” he said.

Cockles could be dying due to high amount of ammonia in water
IVAN LOH The Star 7 Jul 15;

TAIPING: Preliminary laboratory reports of water samples taken from the river at Kuala Sepetang, the largest cockle breeding ground in Malaysia, has shown a high amount of ammonia.

While not conclusive, Perak Fisheries Department director Dr Bah Piyan Tan said it was one possible factor that was causing the cockles to die.

“Ammonia is toxic. Cockles can’t be bred in water with high amount of ammonia.

“The ammonia level should be less than 0.25 parts per million (ppm) for aquaculture activities,” he told reporters during a site visit to the cockle breeding area in Kuala Sepetang by state executive council member Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon yesterday.

“We are still waiting for a thorough report so we can plan for restoration or restocking of the cockles,” he said, adding that the samples were taken about two weeks ago.

“Other factors could be due to parasites or virus or other factor relating to climate change,” he added.

It was reported last month that cockles that were bred for consumption in Kuala Sepetang are dying.

According to the Kuala Sepetang Cockle Farmers Association, there has been a drop of about 90% of its cockle yield and it was getting lesser by the year.

Kuala Sepetang supplies the shellfish throughout Malaysia and Singapore.

Dr Bah Piyan said the department would try to expedite the overall report from the tests to carry out further action.

“When we have the results, we can then advise the cockle farmers on what to do.

“This issue not only affects farmers in Kuala Sepetang but also at coastal areas along the Straits of Malacca near Penang, Johor, Perlis, Malacca and Selangor,” he said.

Dr Bah Piyan said the department would continue to closely monitor the situation.

Dr Mah said the harvesting of cockles had been gradually declining since 2005.

“According to farmers here, they used to harvest some 28,000 tonnes of cockles.

“Last year, it dropped to 13,000 tonnes. As of June, only 3,900 tonnes have been harvested,” he said, adding that about 7,000 tonnes are expected to be harvested this year.

Dr Mah said the state and all related parties would need to wait for a concrete report from the Fisheries Research Institute before planning for further actions.